Vehicle display ramps

ABSTRACT

A motor vehicle display ramp assembly ( 10, 110 ) has ramp sections ( 40, 140 ) pivotally mounted on base stands ( 20, 120 ) being connected by a cross-beam ( 30 ) within a range of spacings. Ramp operating means, such as turnbuckles ( 50 ) or hydraulic rams ( 150 ), enable the ramp sections ( 40, 140 ) to be selectively inclined, in unison or separately, to provide a wide range of display orientations for a vehicle on the assembly ( 10 ). A control system, such as a computer ( 170 ) enables the display orientation to be dynamic or static.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

THIS INVENTION relates to vehicle display ramps.

The invention particularly relates, but is not limited to, motor vehicledisplay ramps where the respective ramps are selectively adjustablerelative to a support structure and/or, each other.

2. Prior Art

The use of motor vehicle display ramps for the display (and sometimesmaintenance/repair) of motor vehicles in motor vehicle dealerships andsales yards is well-known.

The known display ramps have a number of limitations, including thefollowing:

(i) the spacing between the ramps is fixed, limiting the range ofvehicle tracks (and thereby vehicles) which can be displayed on theramps;

(ii) the ramps require the vehicle's weight to move from the (inclined)ramp entry position to the (usually substantially horizontal) displayposition; and

(iii) the display ramps can only statically display the vehicle in twopossible positions.

Limitation (i) means that an operator may require a range of displayramps to display a full range of vehicles from small passenger cars tolarge sport utility vehicles/light trucks.

Limitation (ii) is a workplace health and safety problem as a persondriving a vehicle onto the display ramps must do so carefully as theramps move from the (inclined) ramp position to the (substantiallyhorizontal) display position. In particular, a small longitudinalmovement of the vehicle along the ramps, relative to the hinge points ofthe ramps, may cause the ramps to rapidly change their angularinclination to the support structure and quickly swing to eitherposition. This can also result in damage to, eg., the suspension of thevehicle being displayed.

Limitation (iii) prevents either dynamic display of the vehicles ordisplay of the vehicles in a range of different orientations, eg.,“nose-down” to a perimeter fence or “replicating” typical terrain for a4-wheel-drive vehicle.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a motor vehicledisplay ramp assembly where the respective ramps are separately operable(or tiltable) relative to the support structure.

It is a preferred object of the present invention to provide such anassembly where the spacing between the ramps is easily adjustable toaccommodate a wide range of vehicle tracks.

It is a further preferred object to provide such an assembly where theramps can display the vehicles in a wide range of display orientations,including orientations where the angular inclination of the respectiveramps (e.g., to the horizontal) is unequal.

It is a still further preferred object of the present invention toprovide an assembly where the ramps can be selectively moved to providea “dynamic” display of the vehicle thereon.

Other preferred objects of the present invention will become apparentfrom the following description.

In a broad aspect, the present invention resides in a motor vehicledisplay ramp assembly including:

a pair of base stands spaced apart;

a respective ramp section pivotally mounted at, or adjacent, an upperend of each base stand; and

respective ramp operating means interconnecting a ramp section to thebase stand on which it is pivotally mounted, wherein:

each ramp operating means being selectively operable to enable selectiveadjustment of the angular inclination of the ramp section relative tothe respective base stand.

Preferably, each base stand is of substantially inverted T-shape, with asubstantially vertical post (or posts) supported by substantiallyhorizontally-extending feet; and

each ramp section is pivotally mounted on its respective base stand by apivot pin selectively vertically adjustable on the post(s).

Preferably, the base stands are interconnected by a cross-beam, receivedin respective sockets in the base stands, to enable the spacing betweenthe base stands to be selectively adjusted.

Preferably, each ramp section has an entry end to enable a vehicle to bedriven onto the ramp section, and stop means at the other end to limitthe travel of the vehicle along the ramp section.

Preferably, a ramp frame is provided beneath each ramp section and isconnected to, or journalled about, the pivot pin, where the distance ofthe pivot pin to the entry end is preferably greater than the distancebetween the pivot pin to the other end of the ramp section.

Preferably, the ramp operating means is a telescopically-extensible unitincluding a mechanical turnbuckle, hydraulic or pneumatic ram,electrical solenoid or the like.

Alternatively, a mechanical or electrical drive mounted on the post(s),may be operably connected to the ramp section, or vice versa, toselectively tilt the ramp section relative to the post(s).

The ramp operating means may be connected to, and controlled by, acomputer (or other control mechanism) to enable the ramp operating meansto be operated in unison, or independently, to enable dynamic orselective tilting of the ramp sections relative to the base stand(s)and/or each other.

Preferably, where the display is to be static, optional safety meansinterconnect each base stand to the ramp section in opposition to theinterconnection by the operating means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To enable the invention to be fully understood, preferred embodimentswill now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the motor vehicledisplay ramp assembly in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a part front elevation thereof;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of a second embodiment thereof;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of a third embodiment thereof; and

FIG. 6 is an end elevational view of a fourth embodiment thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The ramp assembly 10 has a pair of base stands 20—each of substantiallyinverted T-shape in side view.

Each base stand 20 has a pair of spaced, substantially parallel,substantially vertical posts 21, 22 which extend above a transverse RHSsocket 23. A first (longer) pair of feet 24 extend substantiallyhorizontal from the outer post 21 and a second (shorter) pair of feet 25extend substantially horizontally from the inner post 22.

As shown in FIG. 3, a pivot pin 26 is selectively engaged inhorizontally aligned, vertically spaced pairs of holes 27 in the posts21, 22.

Braces 28 interconnect the outer posts 21 to the first pair of feet 24to provide stability to the former.

A cross-beam 30, also of RHS configuration, is slidably received in thealigned sockets 23 to enable the base stands 20 to be interconnected atselective spacings so that the ramp sections 40, to be hereinafterdescribed, can be selectively spaced to enable vehicles with a widerange of tracks (eg., small passenger cars, large station wagons, sportutility vehicles (SUV) and light trucks) to be displayed on the rampassembly 10. Pins, not shown, can engage aligned holes in the sockets 23and cross-beam 30 to enable the spacing of the base stands 20 to beselectively adjusted. Alternatively, lock bolts, screw-threadablyengaged in the sockets 23 can releasably engage the cross-beam 30.

Each ramp section 40 has a ramp plate 41, preferably with a non-slipsurface, supported by an elongate RHS spine member 42. A pair of(spaced) pivot plates 43 extend down from the ramp plate 41, beingconnected thereto, and the spine member 42 by transverse brackets 44.The pivot plates 43 are journalled on the pivot pin 26 and are braced byangled braces 45, 46.

It will be noted that the pivot plates 43 are offset from thelongitudinal mid-point of the ramp sections 40, with the entry end 47 ofthe ramp section 40 being spaced a greater distance from the pivot pin26 than the other end 48 (provided with a wheel stop member 49). Whenunconstrained, the ramp sections 40 tend to tilt until the entry ends 47engage the ground on supporting surface (eg., to the orientation shownon FIG. 2).

It will be noted in FIG. 1 that the ramp sections 40 are shown atalternative heights relative to the base stands 20, with the rampsection 40 in the background being higher than the ramp section 40 inthe foreground.

A mechanical turnbuckle 50, as the ramp operating means, interconnectsthe spine member 42 of each ramp section 40 to an anchor 29 on theassociated base stand 20.

By selectively extending the turnbuckle 50 from the configuration shownin FIG. 2, the associated ramp section 40 is controllably tilted toraise the entry end 47 (after a vehicle has been driven onto the rampassembly 10). NB: The ramp sections 40 will remain in the orientationshown in FIG. 2, even if the centre-of-gravity (C.G.) of thevehicle/ramp section combination moves to the right of the pivot pin 26,until tilted by the turnbuckles 50. This prevents uncontrolled tiltingof the ramp section(s) 40.

The operator can selectively extend, or retract, the turnbuckles 50until the desired orientation of the ramp sections 40 (and displayorientation for the vehicle) is achieved.

It is possible for the vehicle to be driven onto the assembly 10 and be,eg., displayed “nose-down” adjacent a saleyard perimeter fence.

As shown in FIG. 1, the ramp sections 40 may be tilted unequally (eg.,one “nose-up”/one “nose-down”) to replicate rough terrain to display a4WD vehicle.

When the display orientation has been established, it is preferred toprovide a safety mechanism 60, comprising a second turnbuckle 61 andchain 62, to interconnect the other end portion of each ramp section 40to its base stand 20.

The embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 3 is suitable for “static” display of thevehicles.

By substituting hydraulic or pneumatic rams 150 (interconnecting thebase stands 120 and ramp sections 140) for the turnbuckles 50, theassembly 110 can provide a “dynamic” display.

The rams 150 are connected via hydraulic or pneumatic hoses 151 to ahydraulic or pneumatic pump unit 152, which may be controlled by acomputer 170. The computer 170 can be programmed to selectively extendor retract the two hydraulic or pneumatic rams 150, and thereby tilt theramp sections 140, either in unison or separately, in a programmedsequence or randomly, to provide a truly “dynamic” display of thevehicle on the assembly 110.

It will be readily apparent to the skilled addressee that the mechanicalturnbuckles 50 and hydraulic or pneumatic rams 150 can be substituted byelectrical equivalents.

In an alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 5, a motor or engine 250 ismounted on the base stand 220 (or foot 224) or post 221, and has a crank251 connected to its respective ramp section 240 via a connecting rod252 to provide a mechanical drive for the ramp section 240.

In an alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 6, an electric or hydraulicmotor 350 may be mounted on each base stand 320 at post 321 andselectively rotate the pivot pins 326 fixed to the pivot brackets 343 ofthe respective ramp section 340. Such rotation could be via direct driveor reduction means 352 (e.g., a reduction gearbox or sprockets 353, 354and chains 355). The speed and direction of the motors could becontrolled by the computer 170 as hereinbefore described.

For vehicles with little ground clearance, e.g., sports cars, the entryends 47 could rest on small start ramps to reduce the initialinclination of the ramp sections 40, 140, 240, 340 to the ground.

Preferably, the length of the ramp sections 40, 140, 240, 340 will beselected to enable vehicles with a wide range of wheel bases to bedisplayed.

As the base stands 20, 120, 220, 320 can be released from the cross-beam30, the assembly 10, 110, 210, 310 can be made very compact fortransport.

In addition, the selection of suitable (high strength) steel aluminiumcan also made the assembly 10, 110, 210, 310 relatively light.

The independent adjustment of the ramp sections 40, 140, 240, 340 andthe ability to both statically and dynamically display the vehicles,gives an operator almost infinite selection of display orientations fora vehicle.

Various changes and modifications may be made to the embodimentsdescribed and illustrated without departing from the present invention.

1. A motor vehicle display ramp assembly including: a pair of base stands spaced apart; a respective ramp section pivotally mounted at, or adjacent, an upper end of each base stand; and respective ramp operating means interconnecting a ramp section to the base stand on which it is pivotally mounted, wherein: each ramp operating means being selectively operable to enable selective adjustment of the angular inclination of the ramp section relative to the respective base stand.
 2. An assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein: each base stand is of substantially inverted T-shape, with a substantially vertical post, or posts supported by substantially horizontally-extending feet; each ramp section is pivotally mounted on its respective base stand by a pivot pin selectively vertically adjustable on the post(s); and the base stands are interconnected by a cross-beam, received in respective sockets in the base stands, to enable the spacing between the base stands to be selectively adjusted.
 3. An assembly as claimed in claim 2 wherein: each ramp section has an entry end to enable a vehicle to be driven onto the ramp section, and stop means at the other end to limit the travel of the vehicle along the ramp section; and a ramp frame is provided beneath each ramp section and is connected to, or journalled about, the pivot pin, where the distance of the pivot pin to the entry end is greater than the distance between the pivot pin to the other end of the ramp section.
 4. An assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein: the ramp operating means is a telescopically-extensible unit including a mechanical turnbuckle, hydraulic or pneumatic ram, or electrical solenoid operably connected to the ramp section to selectively tilt the ramp section relative to the post, or posts.
 5. An assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein: the ramp operating means is a mechanical or electrical device mounted on the post, or posts, and operably connected to the ramp section, or vice versa, to selectively tilt the ramp section to the post, or posts.
 6. An assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein: the ramp operating means are connected to, and controlled by, a computer or other control mechanism to enable the ramp operating means to be operated in unison, or independently, to enable dynamic or selective tilting of the ramp sections relative to the base stand or base stands and/or each other. 